Learning & Memory: The Brain in Action

by Marilee Sprenger

Offers simple strategies to help students improve their memory and make their learning permanent.

Genres: Psychology, Brain, Science

113 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Marilee is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Learning and the Brain Society, and the Cognitive Neuroscience Society. She is an adjunct professor at Aurora University, teaching graduate courses on brain based teaching, learning and memory, and differentiation.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a past teacher and currently a developmental specialist I have done a great deal of reading and studying about the teaching styles, learning styles, multiple intelligences, multisensory approaches, etc... A common concern is always why the children are not performing as well on assessments as they do in class. How to get children to perform is a big topic as more standardized assessments become mandated too.

I found this book to be very insightful on the connection between how the brain works - breaking down memory lanes and how to encourage memory for your children. It then broke the barrier and connected the way to tap back in to memory to emphasize memory retrieval.

I would recommend for all individuals working with children in an educational manner.

[Sandeep Gautam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book, targeted at teachers , and situated in their context. Brain science , as applied to learning, is explained in very simple, yet reasonably accurate manner, and using practical tips .

The main focus of the book is establishing the five memory lanes or subsystems: episodic, semantic, emotional, automatic and procedural. The thesis of the author is that learning become s more deeply entrenched when maximum of these memory lanes are used / involved. This focus is similar to , yet different form, a focus on learning styles or multiple intelligence to cement learning in each individual.

Overall a good book if you are new to brain science and in the field of education.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A required read for the class I'm currently taking. So far I'm really enjoying it. Sprenger's insights and research are very interesting. I look forward to finishing the text and experimentally implementing her strategies in the classroom next year.

I learned quite a bit. Unfortunately the amount of time I put into reading it was so far beyond what I actually needed to do in order to complete my assignment for class. It ended up being more of a personal read I suppose. I'm glad I read it though; not a complete waste of time. Now I have a much better understanding of how our brains work. Quite intriguing.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book in terms of beginning to understand the basic mechanics behind brain science and research. There are many evolving facets to this field and implications for how we should teach, by knowing how we learn. Although this may seem silly to most, at a recent lecture the professor and well know researcher in this field said that the best way to learn, would be to learn one thing only and practice it over and over again. I assume he's referring to meditation.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it for an Ed Psych class. Not very interesting to me in that I either already knew the things it was talking about or i was not interested in knowing.
Not the books fault it's just a bit below my level of knowledge in this area and I found myself bored.

[Megan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laypersons introduction to the brain and memory. It provides theoretical knowledge about the memory and concrete examples for applying this knowledge to improve student learning.

[Shenanitims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for what it is, a basic primer for how the brain works and how it affects teaching. Doesn't go in-depth, but, as a primer, doesn't need to.